@jafant: The Groovies are one of the two or three most revered bands by Power Pop enthusiasts (of which I am), and Shake Some Action their masterpiece. Produced by my favorite 70’s/80’s producer, Dave Edmunds (The Fab T-Birds, The Everly Brothers, The Stray Cats, Dion, Ducks Deluxe).
Edmunds gave The Groovies a very deliberate early/mid-60’s English sound, a cross between The Beatles and The Stones. 3 ringing guitars, lots of harmony vocal arrangements, pounding "neanderthal" drumming (I mean that as a compliment ;-), songs with great chord progressions, sing-along melodies, and hooky choruses. What ABBA might sound like if they were a Rock ’n’ Roll band. Irresistible!
Original pressings of the album (I have both UK and US Sire copies) have a very "dark"/fat sound (the drum sound is very "damped", just as Ringo liked), imo done deliberately to sound retro (Buddy Miller occasionally does the same in his productions). It will be interesting to hear if Kevin Gray has created a more modern sound in his new remaster. Kevin, by the way, is responsible for the series of Beach Boys albums Analogue Productions has issued in the past few years, to great acclaim.
This Groovies reissue is a product from the new reissue label located in Portland Oregon, Jackpot Records (also a retail store). Jackpot also this year released for Record Store Day the very rare 1968 psychedelic album by The Ceyleib People, whose members included Ry Cooder (!), Jim Gordon, and members of L.A. studio band The Wrecking Crew.
